Atomic RoadRunners | Andrew Flynn’s High-Energy Fantasy Baseball

Even a backup catcher will have decent Fantasy value in Philadelphia because of the park he will get at-bats in. Coste will work behind Carlos Ruiz once again this season, but he has pop and is certainly worth looking at as a No. 2 catcher in NL-only formats. Batting over .300 might be a stretch again, but .290 is within reach. If Ruiz stumbles out of the gate, like Coste did last year with a hamstring injury, then Coste could have an opportunity to start again. (CBS Sports)

Braves RP Manny Acosta, acting as closer with both Rafael Soriano and Peter Moylan disabled, pitched the ninth inning for the fourth time in five games Monday against the Nationals. He has only one save over that stretch, though, because the Braves keep winning by too many runs. He recorded one strikeout and allowed one hit in his one inning of work. Soriano might return within the next week, but Acosta looks like a nice stopgap option until that day arrives, particularly in NL-only leagues.

The Mets stayed close Thursday behind hometown pitcher, Brooklyn-born Nelson Figueroa. The journeyman right-hander struck out seven in seven innings, allowing two runs and three hits. He left with a 2-1 deficit, but it was erased in the eighth inning. Figueroa, who grew up a Mets fan, earned his first major league win since 2003 last Friday when he beat Milwaukee in a home start. Figueroa has now looked sharp in two starts with the Mets and this is what New York is hoping for — a guy that can be a band-aid until Orlando Hernandez or Pedro Martinez returns from the DL. Figueroa remains just a NL-only Fantasy option at this time. His next scheduled start is for Tuesday against the Cubs. He is on track for two starts Fantasy Week 4 (April 21-27) with his second coming against Atlanta.

Gregor Blanco started in center field and went 2-for-3 with a walk in Monday’s win over Washington. Blanco got the start against a left-handed pitcher even though he’s worked his way into a platoon in left field with right-handed hitting Matt Diaz. Blanco’s hot bat is going to keep him in the lineup when another outfielder, such as Mark Kotsay on Monday, needs a day off. (Rotowire)

Gregor Blanco becomes the first Atomic Roadrunner this season to re-join the team following his release. Blanco has worked his way into a LF platoon with Matt Diaz, something that hadn’t happened when he was released last week.

John Bowker was acquired and activated today with a $2 FAAB bid. Bowker, who became the first Giants player to homer in his first two games last weekend, hit his first career triple leading off the seventh inning Tuesday against the Diamondbacks and singled in the ninth. Bowker finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and is 6-for-10 with seven RBI in his first three major-league games. From the pre-season CBS Sports preview: Bowker is a 24-year-old outfield prospect who hit .307 with 22 homers, 90 RBI, 70 runs, three steals, a .363 OBP and a .523 OBP in 522 Double-A at-bats last season. He is behind Nate Schierholtz and Daniel Ortmeier in the pecking order this season, but he has more long-term potential than both — particularly because of his power. Consider him a prospect flier and a potential contributor in NL-only leagues sometime during the 2008 season.

Mike Gonzalez was acquired today with a $0 FAAB bid. According to CBS Sports, Gonzalez has begun throwing live batting practice and may be pitching in extended spring training in Florida as early as next week. He opened the season on the DL following Tommy John surgery last May. Gonzalez is a decent middle reliever and might even be a candidate to close at some point, but stash him on DL lists only in the deepest of NL Fantasy leagues at this point. With all the turmoil in the Braves bullpen, he might be the best bet out there, and a possible sleeper protection.

Cardinals SP Todd Wellemeyer pitched six scoreless innings Monday against the Astros before running into trouble in the seventh. Lance Berkman and Carlos N. Lee led off with consecutive solo home runs. However, Wellemeyer remained in the game and retired the next three hitters. He was on the hook for the loss until St. Louis tied the game at three in the ninth. He finished the game allowing five hits and one walk. He struck out seven in seven.

Wellemeyer has now made it through two starts and has allowed a total of three runs in 12 innings. He also has 13 strikeouts in that span. No one saw him as a strikeout-per-inning guy, but it looks as though Dave Duncan has once again worked his magic. Wellemeyer will remain in the rotation as long as the Cardinals need him. Consider him a NL-only and larger mixed league flier. His next scheduled start is for Saturday against the Giants. He was 1-0 with five scoreless innings in his lone start against the Giants last season. (CBS Sports)

Nine Bo Jacksons did some analysis of the Dodgers’ 3B situation:

Blake Dewitt: Although he’s only had 282 ABs above High-A, Dewitt seems like the opening day starter. He’ll split time with Tony Abreu. Due to the lack of upper level experience, Dewitt will be a natural liability in AVG. Since we don’t have a good enough grasp on the PT breakdown, I can’t give dollar values for him - but he’s a speculative NL Only add if you need someone to man the hot corner for a few weeks. He’s as good as gone once LaRoche is back, though.